The Impact of Community Based Reentry Organizations: Introduction

Introduction 

Community-based organizations, such as LINC, are extremely beneficial to individuals that are reentering the community after incarceration. Advocating for the implementation of more community-based programs is very important in helping all members of the community thrive. This post is an introduction to a series on advocating for community-based programs. The series will be four parts consisting of posts on health, lost connections, homelessness, and employment disparities. These are factors that effects both the community and the individual being released from incarceration and can be remedied through the implementation of community-based organization. 

The problem of mass incarceration is a fact that is talked about often. What is often overlooked are the issues surrounding reentry after incarceration and recidivism. In 2022, the U.S prison population was 1,230,100 and 95% of those individuals will be released into the community at some point. When individuals are released from prison, they are often not provided with resources to make a smooth and successful transition back into their community and over half of the individuals released from prison will be rearrested and reincarcerated within three years of their release. The statistics demonstrate a need for a solution, and one possible solution is community-based organizations. 

The issues surrounding reentry and recidivism are not an individual problem, but rather a community problem. Reentry after incarceration affects community health, homelessness, declining civic participation, lost connections, and economic decline. This is not the fault of the individuals released from incarceration. Instead, individuals and their communities are suffering because of barriers placed in front of individuals with a criminal record. Without providing individuals with proper resources during the period of reintegration, the community will be negatively affected. 

The challenges of reentry and reintegration are amplified when considering factors such as race and class. First, it is important to recognize that since the rise in incarceration has been disproportionately experienced by minorities, they also disproportionately experience the hardships of reentry. Second, poor urban communities are the most affected in terms of prison admissions and releases. Race and socioeconomic status make the process of reentry even more difficult. Without community intervention or policy changes in the process of reentry, poor urban communities have very little hope for upward economic growth. 

Although the problem of reentry seems discouraging, it is a situation that can be solved through community intervention. The effects of prisoner reentry such as health problems, homelessness, lost connections and economic distress can be combatted through community assistance in access to treatment, housing, mentorship, and avenues of employment. The current problem of mass reentry and recidivism does not have to be as problematic as it currently is. Most communities have the resources to help, it just comes down to allocation of those resources in meaningful ways that benefit many members of the community. Community support and reentry organizations can change lives in meaningful ways and allow for communities to thrive by making sure everyone at least has a chance at upward mobility and growth. 

This series focuses on advocating for the implementation of community-based programs. Factors such as health, homelessness/housing insecurity, lost social connections, and employment disparities will be discussed regarding how they affect formerly incarcerated individuals as well as the overall community. In each section I will also discuss how community-based programs are able to help with these specific problems in order to help with a successful reentry. Lastly, in each section I will also show the ways in which the programs LINC provides are beneficial in working towards remedying the problems of health, homelessness, lost social connections, and employment disparities in Wilmington N.C. Making sure that all members of the community have the resources they need is what makes communities stronger and this is what LINC and other community based programs work to accomplish.  

About the Author

Jessica Yohey is a Master’s degree student at UNC-Wilmington in the Criminology and Sociology program. She is passionate about learning about today’s criminal legal system and the ways in which it can be improved to provide more justice for all. Jessica is especially interested in the impact of community-based organizations and the process of reentry. Currently interning for Eyes on the Law, she looks forward to learning more about the impact LINC has on the community, and is excited for the experiences that LINC and EOL provide. Jessica plans to use this experience to guide her educational journey!